Pre-Proposals Sought for Desalination and Water Purification Research Grant Opportunity

DENVER - The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking new technologies to study through the Desalination and Water Purification and Development Program. Pre-proposal applications are being accepted for research and laboratory studies as well as pilot scale projects aimed at increasing usable water supplies in the United States.

Reclamation will provide funding up to $150,000 for the research and laboratory studies and $400,000 for the pilot scale projects. Individuals, institutions of higher education, commercial or industrial organizations, private entities (including state and local governments), and Indian Tribal governments are eligible to apply. Cost-sharing is encouraged but not required for institutions of higher education. Other applicants must provide cost-share of 75% of the cost of their project.

The DWPR Program is helping Reclamation and its partners confront widening imbalances between supply and demand in basins throughout the west through testing and development of new advanced water treatment technologies.

The DWPR Program focuses on three main goals: (1) augment the supply of usable water in the United States; (2) understand the environmental impacts of desalination and develop approaches to minimize these impacts relative to other water supply alternatives; (3) develop approaches to lower the financial costs of desalination so that it is an attractive option relative to other alternatives in locations where traditional sources of water are inadequate.

The funding opportunity announcement is available at www.grants.gov by searching for announcement number R14AS00014. Pre-proposals must be submitted through www.grants.gov by Feb. 27, 2014, at 4:00 p.m.

To learn more about Reclamation's Advanced Water Treatment activities, please visit: www.usbr.gov/awt/.

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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR.